That Is Just Who He Is

If you’ve lived in the Everglades for any amount of time, you’ve probably heard of him. Or if you're fortunate, you have met him. If you have, you might have noticed that most of his pinky finger on his right hand is missing. A machete swung by an angry person will usually cost you something; he lost part of a finger, and nearly his head too...but the scar on his collar bone lets you know his head was spared.

Upon closer examination, you might notice the scar on his head; someone shooting point blank in an attempt to send you into the afterlife and barely missing will leave a scar. He has a bullet still lodged in him where the shooter didn’t miss but also didn’t kill him. He would say that was a miracle and I believe him.

Knife scars and various scrapes from a hard life are evident. Yet despite all that and more than I have room to write about it, Craig Daniels isn't the person he was when his body was cut up, shot at, and left for dead at one point.

You see, growing up in these parts as a seventh-generation Daniels meant you could face anything, and you were expected to come out on top. And most always they did. I'm pretty sure that had the Daniels led our troops during World War II, it would have ended sooner!

But like I said, Craig isn't the same person today he was all those years ago. You see, Craig must have had someone praying for him, and a whole room full of angels looking out for him, because at an important time in his life, Craig found God. Well actually, God found Craig because everybody knows God isn’t lost.

It would take three stints in prison, but getting religion, as the old timers would call it, finally stuck. Today, Craig is the owner of Captain Craig's Everglades Boat Adventures, a licensed realtor, and has his captain's license, able to command the big boats! Oh, did I mention he’s a certified scuba diver too?

If you want to learn some of the most amazing history of the Ten Thousand Islands, just book a tour with Craig, or go to lunch with him; his stories will put a smile on your face that will last a lifetime. Craig doesn’t run from or hide from his past; it taught him too many valuable life lessons that he passes on to others.

And if you find yourself in a bind, like one of our church members did the other day, whose boat quit, phone battery died while in Chokoloskee Pass in a downpour, and the wind howling, Craig might just come rescue you. What complicated things, it was also nine o’clock at night when I asked Craig if he could go looking for him.

He didn’t even hesitate, like he always does when someone needs a ride, a prayer, or an encouraging word. Craig is always willing to help. Because that is just who he is. Oh yeah, he is also my associate pastor at Chokoloskee Family Church, where everyone is welcome and we all have a story to share.